Doing away with plastic straws is one way to reduce pollution, but it’s not the most important or effective way. The simple truth is that recycling efforts aren’t at all aligned with the need for recycled plastic, a fact that is amply illustrated by those huge floating plastic masses in the oceans.
The big problem is that much plastic packaging isn’t recyclable. That’s part of the problem with recycling generally, and the Recycling Partnership, a group of 400 large companies, says to move a package from being technically recyclable to being really recyclable will require an industry-wide $250 million residential recycling initiative to capture more than 340 million pounds of post-consumer plastics as well as more than 2 billion pounds of other packaging materials.
A report compiled by the Partnership says the recycling system of the future will require advancing technology, building more robust data systems and enhancing consumer participation. Next year it plans to release a new policy proposal aimed at achieving a sustainably funded recycling system for all materials.
“Our current recycling system is fundamentally underfunded and incapable of delivering a circular economy without dramatic evolution. With this report, we are providing the clear roadmap to create a new and improved recycling system of the future,” said Keefe Harrison, Recycling Partnership CEO.
“We’re providing actionable solutions to help current and future partners build a sustainable and effective recycling system in the U.S.”
The report recommends that plastics packaging be used as the entry point to catalyze system change. However, it repeatedly stresses the importance of building an improved system for all materials, not just plastics.
“Concentrating on plastics alone will not create a viable platform for a truly circular economy,” said Harrison, “Nor will recycling alone ultimately suffice.”